UNCOVERING COVER CROP MIXTURE ROOT ABUNDANCE AND COMPOSITION TO MAXIMIZE ECOSYSTEM SERVICE PROVISIONING

In this study, I propose to explore the belowground composition of roots in cover crop mixtures and their associated ecosystem services. To do this, I will investigate three research objectives:Objective 1: Refine the amplicon sequencing root abundance method I developed to be readily transferable to other species combinations and increase the impact of the developed method.Objective 2: Determine to what extent cover crop aboveground composition in species mixtures reflects belowground root composition and make inferences based on yearly abiotic factors.Objective 3: Determine if cover crop root composition in mixtures predicts and further informs the provisioning of ecosystem services.Findings from all three objectives will be shared through articles in peer-review journals (3 anticipated), four presentations at international, regional, and extension meetings, the production of a Field Crop News article, and an undergraduate mentee presenting on their independent research.